Reusing a 3 years old PC as HTPC (1 Viewer)

Is this configuration enough?

  • YES, with some changes

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • NO

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Total voters
    432

simonech

Portal Member
April 20, 2005
17
0
Milano, Italy
Hello,
I'm quite new on this forum, but it's a long time since I was planning to build an HTPC when I move to my new home.

Now I've got a 3 years old PC, but I want to buy a new one after I relocate, because I'm a developer and VisualStudio 2005 is making my old PC struggling :D

I was thinking to use my old PC as mediacenter, so I'm posting here the HW configuration asking for an advice from you HW gurus.

  • Pentium IV 1.6Ghz
  • 512Mb RAM (but thinkining of buying 512 more)
  • HDD Maxtor 7.2rpm 40GB
    HDD Maxtor 7.2rpm 20GB
    (thinking of adding a 160GB HDD as archive)
  • NEC 1300 DVD burner
  • ATI Radeon AIW with in and out and TV tuner
  • Soundblaster Live 5.1
  • 2 FireWire
  • 5 USB

Do you think this configuration is enough, do I've to change something or just think of installing linux and find some less demanding HTPC SW?
 

Lyxalig

MP Donator
  • Premium Supporter
  • January 30, 2005
    276
    1
    39
    Norway
    Home Country
    Norway Norway
    Looks great.

    I don't know about the AIW.. with what chip.

    Make shure to use a decent graphics-card. DX9 hardware support.

    For example radeon 9550..

    Cheers
     
    N

    namaste3

    Guest
    PIII 933 w/512

    You should be fine. If you have fast disks, totally defragged (especially for the media store), then everything should sing. I'm using my old HP Kayak XM 600 as a HTPC, and it does just fine.

    2 cents.

    - jr
     

    simonech

    Portal Member
    April 20, 2005
    17
    0
    Milano, Italy
    I got it

    Ok,
    thank you...
    from this answers I see that P4, 1.6GHz, with 512MB Ram will be fine
    adding other 512 will be a plus.

    The thing I need to change is the graphic card (AIW has many problems with MP because doesn't support many TV features as implemented in MP).

    Then I've to convert the ugly white mid-tower case in something more appealing for the living room :lol:
     

    wishywashy

    Portal Pro
    January 31, 2005
    495
    13
    Hill AFB, UT
    Home Country
    United States of America United States of America
    Look at my sig. Mine is all left overs I had laying around from various upgrades. However, I am not sure (like the others here) about the AIW. I have been a NVIDIA fan after my Banshee died on me.
     

    rtv

    Retired Team Member
  • Premium Supporter
  • April 7, 2005
    3,622
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    Osnabruck
    Home Country
    Germany Germany
    well but you can only use the tv-out dedicated to this hardware card :-/
     

    Bosso

    Portal Pro
    December 16, 2004
    50
    0
    Sweden / Stockholm
    SpaceProtector said:
    I'm running MP with a Duron 750 and HW tv card, that's totally enough. Sometimes it's a bit slow when browsing music though.

    I run a similar system. works fine. cant fast forward with the 2x, 4x 8x speed playback, but OK to just jump +15, +1min etc.

    I will probably update the graphic card to be able to use VMR in the future.
     

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